Patent US4332999A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4332999A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for machining a workpiece with a beam of radiant energy assisted by a chemically-reactive gas
Assignee: RCA Licensing Corp
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Filing: 1980-10-09
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Granted: 1982-06-01
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Expires: 2000-10-09
Abstract
Abstract A method for machining a workpiece with a beam of radiant energy in the presence of a chemically-reactive gas characterized in that (a) the beam heats the area of incidence of the workpiece to a reaction temperature that is below the melting point of the workpiece material and (b) the chemical reaction is exothermic and produces a reaction product having a boiling point that is below the reaction temperature of the workpiece material. The gas is preferably a halogen or nonmetallic halide which reacts with the workpiece material to produce a metal halide.
Inventors
- 👤 James P. Wittke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:48
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/14; B23K26/1462; B23K26/1464; B23K26/1476; B23K26/1435; B23K26/1438; B23K26/147; B23K35/00; B23K35/22; B23K35/228
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for machining a workpiece including (i) directing a beam of radiant energy upon said workpiece whereby said workpiece absorbs substantial energy of said beam and is thereby heated at the area of incidence with said beam and (ii) providing at least at said area of incidence with said beam, an ambient atmosphere that is chemically reactive with the material of said workpiece whereby a chemical reaction occurs between said atmosphere and workpiece material, characterized in that (a) said beam is of such power density as to heat said area of incidence to a reaction temperature that is below the melting point of said workpiece material but high enough for said chemical reaction to proceed at a practical rate, (b) said chemical reaction is exothermic and produces a reaction product having a boiling point that is below said reaction temperature and gaseous when formed, (c) and said radiant energy is of such wavelengths as to produce substantially no reactive dissociation products in said atmosphere.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
165 words
A method for machining a workpiece including (i) directing a beam of radiant energy upon said workpiece whereby said workpiece absorbs substantial energy of said beam and is thereby heated at the area of incidence with said beam and (ii) providing at least at said area of incidence with said beam, an ambient atmosphere that is chemically reactive with the material of said workpiece whereby a chemical reaction occurs between said atmosphere and workpiece material, characterized in that (a) said beam is of such power density as to heat said area of incidence to a reaction temperature that is below the melting point of said workpiece material but high enough for said chemical reaction to proceed at a practical rate, (b) said chemical reaction is exothermic and produces a reaction product having a boiling point that is below said reaction temperature and gaseous when formed, (c) and said radiant energy is of such wavelengths as to produce substantially no reactive dissociation products in said atmosphere.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said atmosphere contains as its essential component a substance that is gaseous at about room temperature and about one atmosphere of pressure and is selected from the group consisting of halogens and nonmetallic halides.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method defined in claim 2 wherein said atmosphere contains as its essential component hydrogen chloride.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method defined in claim 2 wherein said atmosphere contains as its essential component elemental chlorine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method defined in claim 2 wherein said workpiece consists essentially of at least one metal which forms a metal halide by exothermic chemical reaction with said essential component of said atmosphere, which metal halide has a boiling point below the melting point of said workpiece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method defined in claim 5 wherein workpiece consists essentially of an alloy of metals, each of which forms a metal halide by exothermic chemical reaction with said essential component of said atmosphere.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method defined in claim 1 wherein the melting point of said workpiece material is at least 100° K. higher than the boiling point of said reaction product.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said beam has a power density in the range of about 10 3 to 10 5 watts/cm 2 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said ambient atmosphere is introduced as a jet of flowing gas directed at said area of incidence.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said ambient atmosphere comprises a chemically-reactive gas and a nonreactive gas so proportioned with respect to other process parameters as to give accurate control over the rate of said chemical reaction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3597578A
Cited
US3601576A
Cited
US3569660A
Cited
US3965328A
Cited
US4084988A
Cited
US4167662A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-05-31 | 1985-11-30 | 1986-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-05-31 | 1989-11-30 | 1990-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-05-31 | 1993-11-30 | 1994-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |